• VILLA ZOLLO • is a rustic vacation rental on a hill slope with a panoramic view of the valley and the wooded mountains of the Carpathians. It is located on the edge of the pastoral village of Vale, where the only through traffic consists of one or two horse carts bringing in the hay from the nearby hills. Expect sprawling bright rooms, exceptional cleanliness, and the comfortable indoor climate of a rear-ventilated larch paneling.
The village is nestled in an absolutely peaceful spot. On the one hand, far away from the pulse of time, on the other hand just around the corner from Sibiu, the European Capital of Culture 2007. After a short walk you already find yourself in the oldest beech forest on the continent and will experience a unique flora and fauna on your way up to the mountain meadows. Alternatively, benefit from our central location in the heart of Romania and explore sights and trips in all directions.
We are no trained tourism experts. We live in Vale and have joined together in a small and family-type construction company, with which we worked on several holiday homes. Without hurry, but with attention to detail and respect towards the traditional style of the area, as well as with a view to modern building materials and contemporary housing needs. The result are two sophisticated villas, a shepherd's hut in the mountain meadows and two former farms that received a complete overhaul. Today we can offer you an encounter of different ages and cultures in seven oases of wellbeing, each of them with their own flair, distinctive and special in a place which – we hope – will be sidestepped by the world's hustle for a long time to come.
Our other cottages you can find also on Homeaway or briefly presented below.
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••• VILLA ZOLLO •••
This holiday villa was built on the foundations of a century old blockhouse, of which a few stone walls are still preserved. The construction took 4 years because we took our time and delved into the creative design of details. Now finally, the cottage is a good choice for whoever enjoys something special and wants to add a touch of Transylvanian serenity to their vacation experience.
The villa provides 5.000 sqm garden and 152 sqm of living space on two floors for 6 (up to 8) people. The living room (34 sqm) is on the mezzanine floor. It features oak parquet and includes an open kitchen, brick fireplace, LED TV (Astra Satellite), and ten seats at two tables. From the adjoining balcony you enjoy the view into the valley or follow the sun as it goes down right between the crests of two forested mountains.
The open kitchen is fully equipped for self-catering with a large fridge combo, dishwasher, gas stove, coffee maker and espresso machine, toaster, kettle, spices, and more. The first room (17 sqm), with windows opening to the East, South and West is accessible from both the living room and the outer hallway. The first bathroom (3 sqm) adjoins the living room.
An interior staircase leads to the two bright rooms in the attic, the larger one with an oak floor and a balcony. With their 24 and 32 sqm they can easily be used as a lounge for a larger group. Dormers and windows open in three directions and allow the sun to spread its light across the rooms at any time of day. The view is impressive: it goes out over the vastness of the valley, to the forested mountains and in good weather, all the way up to the snowy peaks of the Fagaras Mountains. The second bathroom (8 sqm) with a shower, tub, toilet, washing machine, and a house pharmacy branches off from the hallway between the rooms. Each room features a double bed, TV, Wi-Fi internet access, infrared panel, and plants. In the largest room, a sofa bed for up to two additional people is available. On arrival you will find the beds freshly made, and towels, soap and shower gel are provided.
The entire interior is new and was chosen with care, including kitchen and sanitation facilities, mattresses, and linen. All furniture, windows, doors and stairs where consistently made to measure, and the rear-ventilated larch paneling provides a healthy indoor climate throughout all seasons. The solar-assisted central heating is backed up threefold. Either you fire up the water-bearing fireplace in the living room, which supplies all the radiators in the house, or an automatic control takes over the job and starts a gas heater and / or the electrical infrared panels at no additional costs for you.
The two gardens are fenced in and adjacent to the surrounding hills. Here you can relax on a covered terrace, grill your steak on the stonewalled barbecue or enjoy the evening by an open fire, proposing a toast to the awakening crickets. Maybe you’ll just sit down beneath an apple tree, listen to the birds, and let your thoughts drift …
• Transylvania villa, sleeps 6 (up to 8)
• 3 double rooms with Wifi-Internet, TV, and one balcony
• 2 bathrooms, one of them with bathtub and washer
• Large living room with fully equipped kitchen, fireplace, TV, and balcony
• 2 gardens with parking lot, covered patio, BBQ and camp fire.
• Minimum stay: 3 - 5 nights (seasonal).
• Additional occupancy: 10 €/night from the 7th person
We rent out this accommodation separately or in combination with the studio-apartment Zollo II on the ground floor. It features a private entry, its own terrace, kitchen, and bathroom.
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••• We offer more than just accommodation •••
• Transfer from the Sibiu airport or railway station is included, and a reliable rental car you can order directly with us.
• On request, our cook provides breakfast or swings the wooden spoon. She conjures traditional menus fresh to the table by appointment - each gram of meat a product of her own livestock farming. Vegetarian? No problem.
• Also available are farm products from the village, such as fresh milk, goat or sheep's cheese, forest honey and homemade jam, zakusca, pickled vegetables, wine and schnaps.
• On request: baby cot, high chair, rides in a donkey cart for children, grocery shopping prior to your arrival.
• Tip: Excursion in a horse-drawn cart to the mountains. The tour can take a few hours or an entire day. On the way, you stop at a creek and Nicu (our Carpathian specialist) prepares a shepherd goulash in the kettle on the camp fire.
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••• The village of Vale •••
… is out in the sticks, in the middle of nowhere. On the other hand, the freeway that brings all sights of Transylvania closer to you is only 5 km away. A tarmac road touches on the village, but in large parts, it’s cobblestone roads and dirt trails leading up into the wooded hills. Thus, traditional structures and straightforward hospitality still hold up in Vale. Horses, cows and goats are still part of the village landscape, and the farmers take up their scythes and plant corn, potatoes, and vegetables to provide for the winter.
There is a children's playground and a small grocery store at the village square. The town of Saliste 2 km away offers more shops, a farmer's market and an ATM cash machine. Whatever you miss here can be found in Sibiu 20 km away at the Cibin Market, in retail stores, or supermarkets such as Real, Carrefour and Lidl.
Some say that the Romanian countryside appears frozen in time. It is unique and mostly untouched and the breath of the past hides in every corner. Maybe you'll sense the charm of the extraordinary, perceiving what life was like before it was leveled by the advance of civilization.
Until then, take a good look around. Heists and highway robberies are tales from the long-gone years of turmoil following the political change in Romania, and Count Dracula obviously exists only in movies. Most people in these parts are open-minded and very friendly when met with respect.
Read more below for an overview of the sights in the area, plus a pinch of Transylvanian history.
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••• Our cottages •••
… offer a total of 15 bedrooms endowed with double beds, internet access via WiFi, TV (Astra satellite), and plants. Some properties feature a garden and living room with a fireplace, and all of them provide a kitchen fully equipped for self-catering, as well as 1-4 bathrooms, a washing machine, and at least one terrace. The central heating facilities (most of them solar-assisted) are powered by water-bearing fireplaces, tiled stoves or gas heaters. In addition, nearly all of the rooms are equipped with an infrared panel.
• VILLA CRINA • our jewel with 200 sqm of living space and terraced garden – 8 pers.
• CASA PELU • the former farmhouse with extended loft and roof terrace – 6 pers.
• CASA NICU • 120-year-old cottage with the appropriate historic flair – 2-3 pers.
• VILLA ZOLLO • 150 sqm holiday home with panoramic views and large garden – 6-8 pers.
• Studio ZOLLO II • well equipped apartment with a terrace, BBQ and garden – 2-3 pers.
• CASA LOPO • carefully refurbished traditional farm with courtyard, barn, garden – 6 pers.
• COZO FANTU • our shepherd’s hut in the mountain pastures – 4 pers.
We care for you as a team. In case of problems or questions you can always get in touch. Furthermore, we might have one or two tips at hand for you, but we also master the art of discreet retreat. We nurture a climate of openness and equality-based relationships.
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